Etienne e



(N0 Model.)

B. B. H. ROUSSEAU.

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE FORGE 0P FLUIDS, AIR, AND WATER.

No. 276,079; 'QljfltGIItBd A-pr..17,1-883.'

N. PETERS, Mob-Lithograph". Wishinflen. 0.0

. UNITED STATES ATENT.

ETIENNE E. H. ROUSSEAU, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE FORCE OF FLUIDS, AIR, AND WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 276,079, dated April17, 1883.

Application filed August 35, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ETIENNE EMILE HENRIRoUssEAU,aeitizen of the Republic of'France, residing at Paris, France,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus forUtilizing the Force of Fluids, Air, and Water, (which has been patentedby me in France under patent dated May 22, 1882, No. 149,047 and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The apparatus the subject of the present invention is intended toutilize the force of moving fluids,the air, the tides, and so forth,without anyspecial construction or buildingwherein to work the machine,which is simple, inexpensive, easily manufactured, and requires littleattention when in operation. It is intended to be employed in a similarmanner to windmills, turbine, screw, or hydraulic wheels of any kind,sails of vessels, for working machinery on the spot or at a distance, ingenerating power for electric lighting, heating, and in metallurgicalprocesses. In accordance with its varied and multiple applications, theapparatus is formed either of one, two, three, or more similar planes,each consisting of a rigid frame bearing juxtaposed a series ofcontiguous blades, and supported like a door on hinges or someequivalent, and turns on one of its four sides in a particular manner,which is previously determined by arranging the series of blades so thatthey are placed in front orrear of the axis which bears the nextseriesof blades. The frame then presents either a plain and impenetrablesurface or leaves a free passage to the fluid in which it moves, as maybe required.

Figure 1 represents an apparatus of the description referred to, seen inelevation. Fig. 2 shows the frames of which the apparatus is formed,with rectangular movable blades, as well as their mode of suspension.resents the method of connecting the planes formed by the frames tocollars mounted on the vertical axis of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a planview, and-Fig. 5 shows a forked piece re- Fig. 3 rep-- (No model.)Patented in France May 22,1882, No. 149,047.

ceiving the stop-knotof thetension-cord (hereinafter mentioned) of theplanes, all of which parts are more fully described in thisspecification.

The following is a description of the apparatus as employed forutilizing the power of the wind: A fixed vertical axis, E, capable ofbeing strengthened by four arms passingabove the rest of the machine,supports three vertical planes, F, which turn on the said axis, and areseparated one from the other about one hundred and twenty degrees. Eachof these similar planes consists of a framereetangular, forexamplebearing at intervals of fifty centimeters a galvanized-iron cordstretched horizontally, and of a diameter in proportion to its length orthe resistance it has to oppose. To each horizontal rope are suspendedby two or more rings or clasps frames or rectangular blades G,measuring, say, one meterbroad by fifty-two centimeters high. Theseblades are juxtaposed, and can turn on the upper cord which supportsthem in front to rear, but not rear to front, on account of the positionofthe cord or rope supporting the series of blades immediately below.The small frames are made of rings of osier wood, or by an iron rod bentat three points at right angles, so as to form a frame bearing a clothor sail surface of some material or'ofbitumenized paper; or, betterstill, the surfaces of these small frames consist of a small thin bladeof sheet-iron protected from oxidation and pierced with one or severalholes for receiving the catches or rings 9, by which they move round theupper iron cord.

The horizontal stretched iron wires may in distant lands be replaced byrods orwooden poles, and ligaments employed in lieu of hinges. Near thetop of the column or mast, which serves as axis to the apparatus, is acollar, El, turning with little friction on the mast by running onrollers h, borne by apiece or block, I, fixed on the mast.

In "cry simple apparatus the collar turns supported by a pin or bolttraversing the mast. The collarhas three half-rings, i, at equaldistances one from the other. Each half-ring receives a ligament, fixingto the collar the upper and inner angle of one of the three planes;

Toward the base of each plane is another 001-.

lar, also provided with half-rings to serve a like purpose to thefirst-named ones. A third collar may, if desired, he placed in thecenter half-way between the others. The two or three collars, if threeare used, are connected one with the other by metal or wooden bars,which makes them solid. The vertical bars and collars together form amuffle, the end of which above the lower level of the vertical planes iscontinued, and bears a drum on which the endless band intended totransmit motionis placed. This endless band passes under the circularrail, which bears the three planes at their lower and external end bymeans of small rollers. The constant outspread of the three planes isassured as follows, at the same time that the facility of closing themin case of need is established: Of the three planes, A is connected to Bat one point and to O at the other by ropes K, which unite the upperexternal angles of each plane, as well as the lower external angles. Themaximum of spread or extension cannot therefore exceed one hundred andtwenty degrees between A B and G D. Two ropes of the same length connectB C; but by pulling on a cord, l, these two cables can be raised at oneend out of the fork M, (see Fig. 5,) which receives their knots orchecks. In this case the planes B 0 turn on the axis and rest againstthe plane A. All three planes together then only present their edges tothe wind, and the apparatus ceases to work. To more clearly explainthis, suppose for a moment that the three planes are resting one againstthe other in front of the spectator, who is in a line with the directionof the wind. The blades whose combination each form one of the planesall rest to the left of the iron wire or cord supporting the series ofblades immediately below. The result is, whatever the direction ofthewind, the apparatus will always turn from left to right. In constructingthe apparatus the blades may also be placed to the right of the loweriron cord. The rotary motion will then be inverted, and the apparatuswill turn from right to left. Then, supposing the two great planesB (3led to their respective positions-that'is to say, stretched away fromthe plane A the third of the circumferencethe apparatus will at oncecommence to work, and will so continue without a dead-point, and nomatter what the direction of the wind and without any particular care orsupervision.

The plane 0 allows the wind. to lift all its blades, which, turningninety degrees 011 the iron cord supporting them, take a horizontalposition and leave a free passage to the ambiant fluid. The plane A,presenting its edge to the Wind by simple weight, has all its bladesresting against the horizontal axes and offers no resistance. The planeB presents a perfectly impenetrable surface to the wind and its bladesrestagainstthehorizontal axes more firmly the more energetic or violentthe wind is. This plane therefore easily gives to the winds pressure andreaches A. (See Fig. 4.)

At this juncture the plane has its blades vertical by the eflect of theweight, and the plane A has replaced the plane 0 and lets the air passfreely. The plane (I in its turn opposes an impenetrable surface to thewind, and the apparatus continues to turn with a force which can beutilized proportionate to that of the decimeter square surface of one ofthe frames multiplied by the weight of a cubic diameter of air, and bythe speed of the wind at the time. Should the wind change, the apparatuswill nevertheless continue to turn in the same direction,having oncebeen fixedin the proper position. Supposing that each plane measures tenmeters high by twenty meters broad, the surface will be two hundredsquare meters or twenty thousand decimeters square, that the wind blowsat a speed of ten meters to the second, and weighs one gram twentyninecentimeters to the liter, we shall have constantly each second on theleft part of the axis of the apparatus a pressure equal to thirtyhorse-power, working day and night, indefinitely, consuming nothing andcosting hardly anything to set up.

The great economical and social benefits of this apparatus are simplyincaleulable. In large towns and cities, as well as in villages, wherethe apparatus would be employed in the rivers and Water-courses forworking mills, &c., it would tend greatly to increase the prosperity ofthe population. The apparatus, as used for utilizing the force of therivers, streams, or tides, is exactly similar to that used for the wind.In this case the vertical axis is solidly driven into the earth, andthree planes formed of frames with movable blades are arranged asalready described, theirheight being equal to that of the highest levelof the water atits highest mark. The breadth of each plane is less thanusual in the air. The recommendation is to make each plane in breadthtwo-thirds of the depth of the water. It is more difficult in the waterthan in the air to make the lower portion of the planes rest on circularrails, (and concentrically if there are many.) The weight of these isconsiderable, as they are made of cast-iron for the mast and sheet-ironfor the blades.

On the right and left banks of the river or stream, up and down thecenter of the town through which a river flows, it is easy to erect oneor more series of these apparatus. The drum on which the endless bandturns for transmitting the force is above the muffle instead of belowit, as in the case for utilizing the force of the winds. It is best alsoto alternate the movements of each apparatus that is to say, for oneturning left to right, the

two next turn from right to left above and below the first one,according to the flow of the water. The force of the fluid in motionwill then be best utilized. It is advisable to bind the summits of allthe masts together by light iron beams arranged at the left or rightbanks of the river or stream, which in no way hinders navigation. Agalvanized-iron-wire grating is arranged around the parts of thewatercourse where the apparatus are set up. By placing plates over thebeams, which are recommended, an examination of the apparatus is easilyeffected should one or other of them require attention from some causeor other. The constant outspread of the three planes is maintained bythin rigid rods having a knee at half their length, and admits ofstopping any of the apparatus, ifdesired. Should there be on a singlebank three contiguous series of one hundred apparatus, with five metersdepth of water, supposing the breadth of each plane equal to the depthof the water in a length of one kilometer of water-course, a speed offlow of one meter per second, or thirty-one to thirty-two meters broad,there will be night and day one hundred horse-power working with outnoise, and gratuitously, instead of requiring steam-machinery or gas,using fi've hundred to six hundred grams of coal per hour perhorse-power, and stokers and engine drivers, whose wages are great, areavoided. This enormous force can be applied to machinery raising wateror for compressing air with Gramme machines, Siemens, or others fortransmitting motion or conveying power at a distance to accumulators,such as Plants, Oamilles, or Faures.

It should be observed that, if there is nothing to interfere with it, anapparatus such as described, of relatively small proportions, may beestablished above a house for ventilation by supplying in hot weatherquantities of compressed air, which, when expanded, absorbs the heat andrefreshes the confined atmosphere by renewing it; also for theproduction of electriccurrents for alarms,the automatic opening andclosing of doors. The frames, being united three and three on an axis,as in the two preceding descriptions, or two and two, are

always made as described-that is, rigid, with blades which can oscillateor be raised, so that the frame moves from front to rear, bottom to top,so that the fluid to which the surface is exposed finds a free passage,and also from rear to front, top and bottom. The circumscribed surface,either plain or curvilinear, is impenetrable and opposes an absoluteresistance, which is the general principle of the invention.

What I claim is-- 1. The herein described wind and water wheel,consisting of a set of vertical frames which revolve around a commonaxis and are provided with hinged overlapping blades, substantially asdescribed.

2. The wind and water wheel consisting of a set of vertical framesconnected by ropes K, and arranged to revolve about a common verticalaxis, each of said frames being faced with overlapping hinged blades,substantiallyas described.

ETIENNE EMILE HENRI ROUSSEAU.

Witnesses:

RoB'r. M. HooPER, E. HILERE.

